ALLIANZ ENGINEERS STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY

180 Allianz Engineering employees have completed a relay walk across the UK in a bid to help achieve Allianz UK’s target of raising over £1 million for the Association of Air Ambulances Charity (AAAC) in three years / by 2018.

The 600 mile route saw the team split into two, passing through seven air ambulance bases in the Midlands and eight in the South of England. The first group set off from Newquay, passing through Exeter and the Allianz Engineering office in Liphook, Hampshire. The second group travelled from Welshpool in Wales, across to East Midlands Airport, through Cambridge. Both teams arrived within 3 minutes of each other at their final destination, London’s Air Ambulance at the Royal London Hospital where they delivered the baton and finished the challenge.

The continuous relay challenge saw teams walking between 12-20 mile stretches, with some even completing theirs through the night. In total the challenge took six days to complete. Colleagues from the Liphook, Birmingham and London offices joined engineer surveyors on the walk, as well as being part of the support teams driving alongside.

Jess Owens, area technical & operation manager, came up with the idea and showed his support by walking every night with the Southern team.

Jess commented, “Given the nature of our mobile and remote work activities, knowing the air ambulances are there, should the worst happen is really reassuring. All the walkers showed fantastic teamwork, enthusiasm and adaptability. It's been a great event and a wonderful achievement. We're all so pleased we've raised a lot of money for a great charity - and hopefully the donations will keep coming in long after the event is over so we can reach our target.”

“The team’s aim is to raise enough money to fund an air ambulance for two days of operations, which equates to £15,000”.

Glyn Amphlett, chief engineer added,

““This has been a fantastic event and I, for one, am very proud to have been involved. This endeavour took a great deal of commitment, motivation and shear hard work from all and it clearly shows what can be achieved when teams work together for a common goal”.

The AAAC is a registered charity, which is designed to coordinate national donations into individual air ambulance charities. The partnership between Allianz and the AAAC will have a positive impact on the ability of these charities to reach critically ill and injured people across the country.

ENDS